Magneto for internal-combustion engines



H. SCHMID AND G..FUEGEL. I MAGNETO ron INTERNAL conaus'non enamzs.

APPLICATION min JULY 1:. m1.

Patented May 13, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- HERMAN SCHMID AND GOTTLOB FUEGEL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO i APOLLO MAGNETO COMPANY, INO., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

. MAGNETO FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application filed July 18, 1917. Serial No. 181,278.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HERMAN Serum) and Go'rrLoB FUEGEL, who were formerly subjects of the German Empire, but who have severally renounced all allegiance to said power and declared our intentions of becoming citizens of the United States and residents of Brooklyn, in the county of liings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magnetos for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in magnetos'; particularly magnetos for generating high tension current to ignite the fuel charges of internal combustion engines.

An important object of our invention is to produce a magneto comprising a framework or housing which is adapted to permit certain members to be interchangeably mounted thereon; so that merely by the substitution of parts, the same size or type of housing can be utilized for magnetos to be placed on engines having different numbers of cylinders.

Further objects of our invention are to provide a magneto that is simple in construction, efiicient in operation; constituted of relatively few parts; and so designed that the various members are easy of access and capable of being readily assembled and dismounted for repairing and cleaning.

The above and other objects and advantages of our invention are clearly set forth in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying,drawings. This disclosure, however, is to be construed as ex-. planatory only, and embodiments of our invention other than that actually shown herein may be made to the full extent of the broad meanings of the terms in which the claims'appended hereto and defining our invention, are expressed.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a magneto built according to our invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure of the framework or housing for our im proved magneto;

Fig. fl is a front elevation of the housing as shown in Fig. 3. with the distributer gear casing added;

5 is aside elevation and B 1g. 6 1s a rear view of an ad1ustable bearmg sleeve for the distrlbuter gear;

Fig. 7 is a. sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a front view of distributer gear;

Figs. 9 and 10 are. respectively front and a portion of the I rear views of the distributer plate; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively rear and front elevations of a so-called triangle piece which is secured to one end of our magneto. The same numerals of reference identify the same parts throughout.

\Ve show a framework or housing for our magnetocomprising a base 1, an upright portion 2 at its rear end, and a-similar upright portion 3 at its front end. Between these upright portions extend pole pieces 4;

one pole piece being at each side of the magneto and over the tops of these pole pieces is a dust cover 5. The base, upright portions 2 and 3, the pole pieces and the cover inclose a chamber for the armature 6. This arrna-z ture may be of any suitable construction, and it rotates on spindles or journals 7, which extend through the portions 2 and 3. Each spindle 7 carries a head on its inner end, between which is located the armature core 8. This core is provided with the usual pole pieces, fixed to both of the heads on'the spindles 7, and made rigid therewith so that the spindles and the core can be rotated as'a unit. The core 8 is provided with a few turns of relatively coarse wire, making up a primary winding 9, and a large number of turns of relatively fine wire, making up the secondary winding 10. Preferably the base 1, portions 2 and 3, pole pieces 4 and cover 5 are made by casting these parts together.

The upright portion 2'at the rear end of the base 1 is shaped so as to provide a hollow cylindrical casing 11, which is in line with and forms an extension orcontinuation of the armature chamber between the pole pieces 4 and the cover 5 and base 1. The end of this casing has an opening through which the rear armature spindle 7 projects and this spindle is connected to a driving shaft so that the armature can be operated. Surrounding this spindle the casing 11 is pro vided with a seat 12, into which fits the usual ball bearing on the rear armature spindle 7, so that this spindle can rotate without frictioni In order to lubricate this ball bear ing, the casing 11may be provided with an oil duct which extends through to the top of the casing and'contains a spring pressed ball to close the duct at the inlet-port thereof. When this ball is pushed downward shghtly,

oil may be supplied to the duct and flow down by. gravity to the, bearing inthe seat 12,, as will be readily understood.

At the forward end of the armature housing the portion 3 is relatively thick'and is made, hollow; forming the entrance to the.

armature chamber; and the armature can be inserted into its chamber and withdrawn therefrom through this portion.

' viding shoulders 13 at both sides, for a dietributer gear casing, to be described later; and below each shoulder 13 is a shoulder 14 for a distributer plate. The armature chaniber is closed in front by a triangle member or piece 15, which fits over the porv.tion' 3 and has a'central opening through which the forward armature spindle 7 may project. Surroundingthis opening 1s a seat, similar to the seat 12, to receive a ball bear- 1 ing for the forwardspindle 7. On its outer b face this triangle piece has a cylindrical mechanism which we prefer to employ; for

the reason that we set forth and claim the same in our companion application for a patent, Serial No. 181,277 filed July 18,

1917. It is sufi'icient to state here that this interrupter mechanism includes an insulated fixed contact on the plate in question, and V a movable contact operated by means of an annular cam element or ring having inside actuating portions and mounted within a cylindrical or tubular part 17 that is carried by the boss 16. The cylindrical part 17 is put on by slipping it over the boss 16 and can be adjusted on this boss to advance o1 retard the ignition by means of arms 19 in the usual way. The part 17 is closed by acap 20 which is held in place by means of a spring clip 21 mountedon a bolt which is secured to the base 1 below the part 20; and the spring catch can be revolved to one side i on this bolt when the cap 20 is to be removed. I

The forward armature spindle 7 has an axial bore 22 through which extends .a pin 23. This pin is'in electrical connection with the fixed contact above referred to, and at its inner end it has threaded engagement with an insulated fixed member '24 on the inside of the armature.,, This pin is insulated from the armature spindle 7 carrying We also make the portion 3 open at the top; pro-- it and it serves both to hold the plate above mentioned in place on the forward armature spindle 7 and to connect the fixed contact, which is also insulated, on this plate wlth one .end of the primary winding 9. This end is gained by securing one terminal of the primary winding to the member 24; and the other terminal will'b'e grounded on .the body of the armature itself The mov able contact, which is carried by the same the pin 23 at the other; so as to be bridged across the interrupter contacts.

On the cover 5 is a bearing support 25, adjacent the portion 3. This support 25. is intendedto receive the spindle of the distributer-gear to be described presently, and it is surrounded by a flange 26. ,The purpose of this flange is to enable the bearing support to be secured to the casing 27 of the distributer-gear; and this casing is fixed to the housing-by puttingit on the shoulder 13. and then preferably riveting it to the flange 26. In front, the casing 27 .has threaded holes 28 at the sides to receive .screws 29 passing through openings in the distributer plate 30. This plate is put on the housing by standing it on the shoulder 14; and then turning the screws 29 into the holes 28, the plate 30 then closing the which terminal, of course, must be insulated from the body of the armature, whilethe other terminal may be grounded; and on the slip ring 33 rests a spring pressed brush or carbon or other contact material 34 carried by the distribuier plate 30. This distrib11- ter plate is, of course, made of insulation and its lower' edge is provided with abore to receive the brush 34; there being a spring in this bore to keep the brush 34 pressed down upon the ring 33. The inner or rear face of the plate 30 is providedwith a similar brush 35 located in the center of the plate, and extending horizontally when the plate is mounted on the shoulder 14. The brushes 34 and 35 are of course electrically ture at one end and to the primary 9- near connected to each other; As shown in Fig.

1, the lower edge of the distributer plate 30 the flanges of the insulating sleeve-32. In

the casing 27 is the distributer gear 36 which is made, of fiber or some other insulating substance. This gear meshes with the gear 31 and rotates at half the speed of the latter. It carries atits center a metallic element 37 embedded therein and arranged to make contact with the central brush 35 of the distributer plate. Adjacent its periphery the gear 36 carries a wiping brushin the form of a metallic segment 38 connected electrically to the element 37; this element and the segment 38 being preferably in one piece. The distributer plate 30 also carries a number of brushes 39 similar to the brushes .35, and spaced equidistantly apart around the brush 35, and each of these brushes is connected to a binding post 40 on the outer face of the-distributer plate. The rotating contact segment 38 on the gear 36 will close the circuit of the secondary winding 10, through each of the brushes 39 in turn, and as these brushes will each be connected through a binding post 40 to one of the igniters of the engine, sparking can be effected in each of the engine cylinders in succession.

The magnets are indicated by the numeral 41, and they will be placed between the portions 2 and 3 so as to engage the pole pleces 4. As will be readily understood, the pole pieces will be spaced a short distance from the lateral edges of the base 1 so as to provide ledges on which the ends of the magnets may rest. We also form an oil duct 42 in the casing 27, see Fig. 1; this oil duct being in the top of this casing and extending down through the same and the flange 26 on the bearing 25 to supply lubricant to the spindle of the gear 36. The port leading to this oil duct is provided with a cover 43, to close the same and adjacent this cover is a retaining member 44. Both the cover 43 and member 44 are mounted on a pivot pin held by lugs at the top of the casing 27, and a single spring 45 engages both the cover and the retaining member and acts to hold the cover closed, and the retaining member in the position shown in Fig. 1; this retaining member being intended to extend rearward over the tops of the magnets 41 and be secured at its opposite end by a screw to the portion 2 to hold the magnets against displacement.

The bearing support 25 will have an opening 46 which will be in line with the center of the gear casing 27 In the latter will be a central opening for thespindle 47 of the gear 36; and the end of the spindle 47 will receive a cap 48 held on by a pin 49. Inside the bearing support there is a bearing sleeve 50 with an eccentric bore 51 in which the spindle 47 rotates, and by turning the sleeve waterproof.

50, the spindle 47 and gear 36 can be adjusted toward or from the gear 31; to make the gears 31 and 36 mesh as required. The sleeve 5.0-is held in adjusted position by providing it with an external circumferential groove 52, to be engaged by a taper bolt 53.

This bolt passes through a pair of apertures 54 in transverse alinement throughthe sides of the support 25 at the upper end thereof;

and has its smaller end threaded for a loc-kand compensation for wear can'readily be obtained.

' It will now be seen that our magneto is a comparatively simple constructiom-and can be easily taken apart. To remove the distributer one need only take out the screws 29; and if the interrupter is to be inspected, the sprmg 20 1s turned to one side and the cap 21 removed. If necessary, the part 17 can be dismounted from the piece 15. Further, the gear 36 can; be taken out simply by withdrawing the pin 49, taking off the cap 48 and withdrawing .the bolt 53. To get at the armature, the triangle piece 15 is separated from the housing and the armature can then be slipped out through the portion 3. The magnets are heldtightly in place by the member 44, and no screws through the ends engagingthe pole pieces are needed.

By merely raising this retaining member 44- the magnets can easily be removed and replaced at any time. The armature chamber is entirely closed, and the construction of the housing and the manner of mounting the 1 various members of the magneto thereon makes the armature chamber practically The drawings show the magneto with a distributer 30 and gear casing 27 fora four cylinder engine. used on an engine having a larger number of cylinders such as six, for example, a larger ear casing and distributer plate are require and we must also utilize a larger gear 36 and provide for rotatably mounting this gear at a greater distance from the armature axis. For this purpose we make the opening 46 through the bearing support 25 elongated; and mount therein a bearing ring 55, which receives the bearing sleeve 50. The opening 46 is elongated vertically, and the ring 55 fits into this opening 46, and has its interior surface of such shape as to enable it to maintain the bearing sleeve 50 in proximity to either the upper or the lower end of the opening 46. For this purpose we make the bearing ring 55 with a thickened end 56; the inside surface at this end being perfectly circular so as to fit the bearing sleeve 50, and at the If the magneto is to be.

I same time allow the bearing sleeve to be turned therein; the opening through the bearing ring being somewhat elongated, the

: same as the opening 46. We also provide the bearing ring with a pair of apertures in transverse alinement through its sides at the thinner end; and when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 7, the taper bolt 53 extends through boththe bearing support and the bearing ring. With this construction the bearing ring 55 can be in position even though a distributer plate and a distributer gear for only a'four cylinder engine is to be supplied with ignition current by the magneto. Under such circumstances, the taper bolt 53 will hold the bearing sleeve 50 in proximity to the lower end of the opening 46, and the thick end 56 of the ring 55 will be located at the lower part of the opening 46;the. proper adjustment between the gears 31 and 36 being secured merely by turning the sleeve 50. This sleeve may have i a polygonal portion providing a wrench hold at one end under the cap 48.

For a six cylinder engine the taper bolt 53 will be withdrawn and the ring 55 reversed so as to locate the thickened end 56 at the upper end of the opening .46 in the bearing support 25. This hearing support will be provided with a 580-. 0nd pair of apertures 54 in transverse allnement throu h its sides at the opposite or lower end 0 the opening 46; and when the thickened end 56 of the ring 55 is uppermost .in the support 25, with the bearing sleeve 50 in contact therewith, the apertures 54 in the ring- 55 will register with the lower pair of; apertures 54 of the bearing support. Hence,

the taper bolt 53 will be put through the lower apertures to engage the groove 52 of the sleeve 50 from below; and thus the spindle 47 in the gear 36 will be rotatably mounted at a greater distance from the armature 'axis and enable a larger gear to be used. i

It will be seen from Figs 1 and 4 that the casing 27 is so made that it preferably has a flat back or bottom and a rim concentric with the opening for the spindle 47 of the gear 36. This rim does not extend entirely around the casing, but has a gap therethrough to permit-the gear 36 to PIOjBC'd into engagement with the gear 31. Also the rim is made slightly thicker at opposite sides of the casing above the ends of the rim; thereby providing lugs or ears in which I the holes 28 are place The sleeve 50 may have an oil groove 57 located so that it will be adjacent the inner end of the oil duct 42 when the sleeve is mounted in the bearing support 25. From this duct openings 58 lead through the sleeve 50 to the spindle 47 so that oil can reach the inside of the bearing sleeve 50 and lubricate the spindle 47.

" body of the armature.

Hence, through the means associated with the bearing support 25 and comprising the bearing sleeve 50 and the bearing ring55, the distributer gear 36 can be adjusted with respect to the armature axis so that our end is gained. The ring 55 serves to give approximately-the distance from the armature axis to the axis of the gear 36; and

when this distance is secured, as. by locating on its inner face with an annular flange 59 which encircles one end of the sleeve 32 and ,is in sufiicient proximity to the sleeve 33 to enable a spark to jump therefrom. and

through the flange 59 to ground in case the distributer should fail to work. In this way the liklihood of damage to the high tension windings 10 on the; armature is practically eliminated. The flange 59 is cut away at the top of tne level of the shoulder 14, so as not to interfere with. the lower edge of the distributer plate 30.

By virtue of the internal projection 59- which it carries, the triangle piece 15, forming as it-does a permanent part of the structure of the magneto, and helping to support the mechanism thereof, provides a so-called safety spark gap between the ring 33 and the housin and insures against damage'by enabling t e high tension current to jump across the safety gap if, for any reason, the

. magneto. The triangle piece 15 is provided current cannot flow through the usual means for leading it away from the ring 33, such as the brush 34, etc. This result is obtained by merely putting the triangle piece into p ace. I

The base 1 of the armature housing is provided with an opening 60 which may be closed by a spring held cap 61. This opening may be long enough transversely of the base to extend from one polepiece to the other, and is provided to enable the armature position to be gaged for setting the inter rupter mechanism in proper position. In the base, further, we also locate the usual ground brush 62 to make contact with the As will be seen from Fig. 1, the shortest distance from the flange 59 to the ring 33 the adjacent edgeof the ring. In operation the brush 34rides upon the middle of the ring. Consequently if sparking should take place between the flange 59 and ring 33, any

will be from the outer edge of the flange to pittin of the an 33 that might result will not a cot the sur ace of the ring which rubs in contact with the brush 34, but will be located rather around the forward edge of this ring. Henc the ring 33 will never become roughened over the surface which rubs against the brush 34, and the grinding away of this brush and the scattering of particles of same upon the adjacent inside portions of the magneto will be prevented. As the pitting will-take place along the edge of the ring, the middle of the same between the edges will remain smooth; and the brush 34 wi 1 not be subjected to any grinding action. The cap 20 for the part 17 which incloses the interrupter mechanism may have a bind ing post 63 thereon to give a ground connection, if desired; and the gear 36 may be provided with a plate of insulation 64 on its forward face carrying the metallic piece providing the element 36 and the segment 38.

Having described our invention, what we claim to be new and desire to secure and protect' by Letters Patent of the United States,

is as follows LA magneto comprising a base with an upright portion at one end said portion having. shoulders for a distributer gear sing.

2. A magneto comprising a bas avmg upright portions at its opposite ends, pole pieces between said portions, a cover for the pole pieces, and a bearing support for a distributer-gear on said cover adjacent one of said portions.

3. A magneto comprisinga base having upright portions at its opposite ends, one of said portions having shoulders forfia d1stributer-gear casi polepieces between said portions, a cover or the-polepieces, and a bearing sup ort for a distributer-gear on said cover a jacent said shoulders.

4. A magneto comprising a bearmg support for a distributer-gear, an eccentrlc sleeve in said support, and means for holding said sleev in ad usted position.

5. A magneto comprising a bearing support for a distributer-gear, an ad ustable sleeve in said support, said sleeve havm an eccentric bore therethrough, and a 100 mg pin carried by the bearing support to secure the sleeve in position.

6. A magneto comprising a bearing support for a distributer-gear, an adjustable sleeve in said support, said sleeve having an eccentric bore therethrough and an external circumferential groove thereon, and a looking pin in the support to engage the groove and hold the sleeve in adjusted pos1t1 on.

7 A magneto comprising a housing 1ncluding pole pieces, magnets engagin sa1d pole pieces, the housmg having an 01 duct and a cover therefor, a retaining member mounted on the housing to extend across the tops of the magnets and prevent dlsplacement thereof, and a single spring engaging both the cover and the meinber tohold same a base, pole pieces on sa1d base, a groun brush carried by the base, the base having a sight opening therethrough between the pole pieces, and a pivoted closure for said opening.

10. A magneto comprising a bearing support having an elongated opening and a bearmg ring fitting into said opening and havin an interior surface of such shape as to ena le a bearing sleeve for a distributergear to be mounted in said ring and maintained thereby in proximity to either end of said opening.

11. A magneto comprising a bearing support having an elongated opening, a bearin rmg fittinginto said opening, the inside 0 said ring being circularly curved at one end thereof, said end being thicker than the other, saidsupport having a pair of apertures in transverse alinement through its sides at each end, the ring having a air of apertures in transverse alinement t ough its sides at said other end to register with either pair of apertures in the support, and a fastening bolt for the support and the ring,I whereby the ring may be secured with.

its t icker end at either end of the opening;

12. A magneto having an armature, a distributer-gear driven from said armature, a bearing support for the gear and means associated w1th said support for adjusting the gear with respectv to the armature.

13. A magneto having an armature, a disposition and means for. engaging eit er of said pairs of apertures and adjustably securing said sleeve in proximity to either end of said opening.

15. A magneto comprising a base having upright portions at its ends, polepieces between sa1d portions, a cover for the polepieces, one-of said portions having a shoulder for a distributer-gear casing a bearing support on the cover adjacent said be in line with the center of said casing, and a flange on the support to engage the casing.

16. A magneto having a base with upright portions at its ends, polepieces between 1 adjacent said sip ring said portions, one of said portions having a shoulder for a distributer gear casing and a shoulder for a distributor plate to be secured to said gear casing, a cover for the polepieces, and a bearing support on the cover adjacent said portion, to be in line with the center of the casing, said support having a flange to engage the casing.

- mature, an insulated slip ring carried on said armature and a triangle piece of conductive material havin a bearing for the armature said piece having a flange projecting into electrical proximity to said ring. 1 I

20. A magneto comprising a base having upright portions at its ends, pole pieces be tween said. portions, a cover for the pole pieces, one of said portions having a shoulder for a distributer gear casing, and a bearing support on the cover adjacent said portion to be in line with the center of the easing.

21. A magneto having a base with upright portion to plate to be se-' portions at its ends, one of said portions having ashoulder for a distributer gear caslng and a shoulder for a distributer plate to be secured to said gear casing, a cover for the pole pieces, and a bearing support on the cover adjacent said portion-to be in line wlth the center of the casing.

22. A high tension magneto comprising an insulated rotatable conductor element, means for leading current therefrom, anda fixed internal projection carried by said magneto in electrical proximity to said element, but separated from same spark gap.

her having approximately a triangular form, with a central opening therethrough and a seat in one face surrounding said opening, said member also having a flange on said face adjacent said seat.

24:. As an article of manufacture, a casing comprising a back and a rim having a gap therethrough, said rim having ears on opposite sides of the casing to receive openings therein.

25. As an article of manufacture, a casing having a back with a central opening, a rim surrounding said openi and having a gap therethrough, said rim avin lugs or ears at opposite sides of said opening for the re- .ception of holes therein.

26. A high tension magneto comprising an insulated rotatable conductor element, a brush for making contact with said element and a stationary member of conductive material projecting into proximity to a portion of said element not engaged by said brush; and being separated from said element to provide a safety spark therefor.v

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 13th day of July, A. D. 1917.

HERMAN SCHMID. GOTTLOB FUEQEL.

' 23. As an article of manufacture, a mem-- to provide a safety 

